Freely translatable sliding door



2,659,`I I I Nov. 17, 1953 B. J. TRILLER FREELY TRANSLATABLE sLIDING DooR Filed Aug. 19, 1952 LMA TTORNBK/ nef III

n.11! x Lallll one of the doors shown in Fig. l.

Patented Nov. 17, 1953 FREELY TRANSLATABLE SLIDING DOOR Benjamin J. Triller, Dubuque, Iowa,

assigner to Farley & Loetscher Manufacturing Company,

Dubuque, Iowa,

a corporation of Iowa Application August 19, 1952, Serial N o. 305,183

Claims. (Cl. 2li-35) The present invention relates to improvements in sliding doors of relatively large size adapted to be supported in xed, rigid frames for translatory opening and closing movements.

Hitherto, one of the problems encountered in the use of doors of this type. particularly those having basic structural components formed from materials having different coeicients of thermal expansion and contraction, has been severe binding between the doors and their support guides or tracks induced by warping or winding of the doors, especially during extreme weather condi-v tions, which impairs free opening and closing movements of the doors.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved sliding door of considerable size which is inherently capable of remaining freely slidable along rigid support guides throughout long periods of use and extreme weather conditions, even though the door is fabricated of basic structural elements having different coefcients of thermal expansion. A collateral object is'to provide a door of this character formed of a strikingly simple and inexpensive construction.

A more specific object is to provide a sliding door of relatively large size having a large body Y panel and reinforcing frame fully integrated and correlated with each other in a novel manner which eliminates any tendency of the door to warp or wind because of yunequal expansion and contraction of the frame and panel.

A further object is to provide an improved door .of the character recited which will not produce a binding action on its support guides which will impede its free translation to Vany signiiicant` degree, even if the door should for any reason acquire a residual warp or twist.

Other objects and advantages willbe perceived from the following description ofthe exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a passageway including a rigid guide frame guidingly supporting two sliding doors constructed in accordance with the invention. Y

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 2-2 of Fig. l, showing the longitudinal edges ofthe doors and illustrating the manner in which the doors are supported in the guideframe.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rear side of Fig. 4 isa fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 4-4 of Fig.

. closets and the like.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view also on an enlarged scale taken along line -E of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 'l-T of Fig. 5.

Although certain worth-while advantages are realized from the speciiic correlation of structural elements forming the illustrated embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to ythe form shown, but embraces all equivalent constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Sliding doors of the type to which the present invention relates are well suited for use in the construction ofr residences vand similar buildings to close passageways such as entrances into y For purposes of` illustration, two such doors lil embodying teachings of the present invention are shown slidably mounted in a rigid guide and support frame il fixed in a double door passage in a building wall l. The Y doors l are or" substantiallyidentical construction and the description of one herein applies to both.'

Both doors I9 are of rectangular elongated shape and of substantialsize. In the preferred construction shown, each door comprises a single body panel l5 of rather thin material conforming generally in shape Vand size to the overall configuration of the door. The panel it is supported by a skeleton reinforcing frame it of simplified construction that is correlated with the panel in.

a novel manner which avoids any appreciable drag on the free translatory movement ofthe ldoor I0 along its support guides due to binding between the door and guides such asthat corn--y m'only caused by the warping or winding of com ventional sliding doors. Y

lFor purposes of economy in manufacture4 and v neatness in appearance, the body panel l5, which covers virtually the entire area of the doen-is cut from a relatively thin sheet of laminated or fpressed material such as Masonite. 'The frame I6 is fabricated of the woods commonly used in mill work. Since the materials as used in the door panell and frame i8 ordinarily havedifyferentcoeilicients of thermal expansiomth'ey are `provides for free' expansion movement of the body potentially capable when used together in conventional door constructions of creating .internal stresses' producing warping or winding oi the door. However, this deleteriouseiect ispavoided inithe present construction wherein the frame I6 panel I5 while at the same time affording sturdy. positive support to the panel along its entire peripheral edge as well as its central midsection. In conjunction with this, the door III is further adapted to have free sliding movement along its supports, even though the door should for any reason acquire a residual warp or wind.

structurally, the reinforcing frame I6 coinprises twc spaced side stiles II extending along opposite side edges of the door. The inner faces of the respective Stiles are rabbeted to define inwardly open rabbets or grooves I8, Fig. i', adapted to slidably receive opposite marginal side edges of the body panel i5. Preferably, each stile il is shaped transversely to include a generally rectangular body portion i9 and a reinforcing web 2c of substantially less thickness than the stile body and extending inwardly from the inner face of the latter. It will be noted that the 'rabbets I8 are formed in the respective stile bodies I9 and located forwardly of the reinforcing webs 2li with the innermost edges of the rabbets aiined with the front faces of the latter. Thus, the stile webs 2t are utilized to alord further support or backing to the contiguous marginal edges of the panel i5.

It should be noted that the body portions IS of the respective stiles Vl define rather thick sturdy edges for the door it. By virtue of the support afforded by the stile webs Eil, it becomes feasible to reduce the lateral width of the respective stile bodies I9 to a relatively small dimension. Preferably, this lateral width of the stile bodies I9 is so reduced that the bodies become substantially square in transverse section. structed in this manner are capable of aiiording sturdy support to the respective side `edges of the door panel l5 without having objectionable longitudinal stiiness which, as will presently appear,

complicates the problem of eliminating binding between the door and its support guides.

Corresponding ends of the stiles ll at opposite ends of the door are connected by end rails 2l. These rails 2i are thinned to the thickness of the reinforcing stile webs E@ and are joined at oppcsite ends in flush abutting relation to the latter by suitable dowel pins or the like (not shown). Opposite ends of the door body panel I5 are extended to the outer marginal edges of the respective cross rails 2i in slidable overlying relation to the forward faces of the rails whereby the latter affords sturdy support to the panel.

The intermediate portions of the respective stiles il are connected by one or more, in this instance two, cross rails 22. Like the end rails 2i, the cross rails 22 have the same thickness as the stile reinforcing webs 2c and are similarly joined in abutting relation thereto. Thus, the cross rails 22 which are disposed in coplanar relation with the reinforcing webs 2t aiord sturdy support to the central portion of the body panel l5. The weight of the body Apanel l5 is sustained cy anchoring the central portion of the panel to the cross rails 22 by suitable anchoring means which, in this instance, comprise sash pins 24.

As best shown in Fig. 7 the marginal side edges of the body panel I are held securely against the reinforcing webs 2G of the respective stiles il by longitudinal lips 25 on the stile body portions is which denne the front edges of the Asupport rabbets i3. To positively maintain the opposite ends of the body panel I 5 in abutting side engagement with the respective end rails 2 I f while at the same time preserving the slidable relationship between the panel and rails, modified Z-'shaped The stiles conclips or brackets 26 are xedly attached to opposite ends of the panel to slidably engage elongated beads 21 dened on the inner edges of the respective end rails.

As it is contemplated that the door I0 will be painted or enameled after assembly, special provision is made for preventing the formation of a paint bond between the panel I5 and the cross rails 2I which would impede free sliding movement of the panel over the rails. For this purpose, the edges of the respective rail beads 2l adjacent the panel I5 are undercut (Fig. 5) to provide a gap 29 between the bead and the panel of sufficient width to prevent the formation of a paint .bond between these structural elements.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the body panel I5 is free to expand and contract by free lateral sliding movement into and out of the stile rabbets It and free longitudinal movement along the end rails 2 I. Yet, despite this provision for movement between the panel I5 and frame I6, the peripheral edges of the panel, as well as the central portion thereof, are maintained in firm engagement with the reinforcing frame IB.

Not only does the structural provision for relative sliding movement between the door panel i5 and reinforcing frame lli eliminate warp or wind due to unequal expansion or contraction of these structural components of the door, but it also, quite significantly, lends a limber or flexible quality to the door whereby its resistance to externally applied winding forces is reduced to a minimum. In vthis connection, it will be noted that the capability of the door Il) to iiex under a twisting force is further enhanced by special design features of the frame I itself. These include theV thinned construction of the end and cross rails 2l and 22 together with the specially formed stiles Il, previously described, which achieve strength without stiffness. Thus, in the event the door Il) or its frame I6 or panel I5 should for any reason acquire some degree of residual warp, tne distortion is easily overcome, upon installation of the door into a fixed support guide il, by slight pressure of the support guide I I. By virtue of the singular torsional yieldability of the door IQ, this pressure is well below that which would produce s'ignicant binding between the guide and the door.

For the purpose of illustration, each door -I is provided with two support rollers Sil mounted in notches 3l in the lower ends of the respective stiles I1 by brackets s2 for rolling engagement with a support rail 35 formed on the threshold 35 of the door guide frame I i. Since the guide frame II in this instance supports twin doors, two parallel rails 3d are provided on the threshold 35 for the respectivedoors. The upper ends of the doors IU are guided respectively in parallel guide channels 36 ixed to the upper horizontal member 31 of the guide frame! I. Each door I0 is steadied in its support guides by spring pressed pins 3S provided in the upper end ci each .stile II to resiliently and slidably engage the associated channel guide '38.

I claim as my invention:

1. A flexible sliding door of rectangular shape comprising, in combination, a rectangular skeleton frame including two side stiles disposed in spaced parallel relation to each other, each of said stiles including a transversely square Vbody portion and a thinned web support member extending inwardly relative to lsaid door from the inner longitudinal edge of said body portion, said body portion of each stile defining an elongated rabbet disposed immediately contiguous to the forward edge of the web member thereon, two end rails of substantially the same thickness as said side stiles, said rails connecting corresponding ends of said stiles at opposite ends of said door and disposed in substantially coplanar relation to said webs, a rectangular body panel having opposite marginal side edges disposed in said respective stile rabbets and opposite ends lying in slidable side engagement with said respective end rails, said end rails each having a thinned elongated bead on the inner edge thereof, the inner edges of said respective rail beads being undercut on the sides thereof adjacent said panel to define therewith gaps of substantial width designed to avoid the formation of a paint bond between said panel and said end rails, retaining' braclets fixed to opposite ends of said panel and slidably engaging said respective rail beads to positively secure said panel in slidable engagement with said rails, a cross rail of substantially the same thickness as said stile webs interconnecting intermediate portions of said stiles, and anchoring means securing the central portion of said body panel to said cross rail to support said panel on said skeleton frame for free expansion movement relative thereto.

2. A flexible sliding door, of rectangular shape comprising, in combination, a rectangular` skeleton frame including twov side stiles disposed in spaced parallel relation to each other, each of said stiles including a transversely square body portion and a thinned web support member extending inwardly relative to said door from the inner longitudinal edge of said body portion, said body Dortion of each stile defining an elongated rabbet disposed immediately contiguous to the forward edge of the web member thereon, two end rails connecting corresponding ends of sai-d stiles at opposite ends of said door and disposed substantially ilush with the forward sides of said stile webs, a rectangular body panel having opposite marginal side edges disposed in said respective stile rabbets and opposite ends disposed in slidable side engagement with said rails, a cross rail interconnecting intermediate portions of said respective stiles, anchoring means xing the central portion of said panel to said cross rail, and guide following means secured to opposite ends of said frame. n

3. A limber sliding door of rectangular shape comprising, in combination, a rectangular skeleton frame including two side stiles disposed in spaced parallel relation to each other, each of said stiles deiining an inwardly facing longitudinal rabbet therein and having a thinned web portion running along the inner longitudinal edge thereof at one edge of said rabbet, two end rails of substantially the same thickness as said stile webs, said rails connecting corresponding ends of said stiles at opposite ends of said door and disposed in substantially coplanar relation to said webs, a rectangular body panel having opposite marginal side edges disposed in said respective stile rabbets and opposite ends disposed in slidable side engagement with said rails, each of said end rails having an elongated bead on the inner edge thereof disposed in slightly spaced relation to the contiguous portion of said panel, retaining brackets xed to said panel and slidably engagingsaid respective end rail beads, and guide following means on opposite ends of said frame.

4. A rectangular sliding door comprising, in combination, a skeleton frame including two spaced parallel side stiles, two end rails joining corresponding ends of said respective stiles, a central cross rail connected in spanning relation to the medial portions of said respective stiles, said stiles each defining an inwardly open rabbet extending longitudinally therealcng, a rectangular body panel having opposite side edges slidably received in said respective stile rabbets, means slidably attaching opposite ends of said panel to said respective end rails, and anchoring means securely xing thevmedial portion ofV said panel to said cross rail to support said `panel therefrom for free expansion movement relative to said stiles and said end rails.

5. A rectangular sliding door comprising, in combination, a skeleton frame including two spaced parallel side stiles, two end rails joining corresponding ends of said respective stiles, a central cross rail connected in spanning relation Y to the medial portions of said respective stiles,

said stiles each defining an inwardly open rabbet extending longitudinally therealong, a rectangular body panel having opposite side edges slidably received in said opposed stile rabbets, opposite ends of said panel slidably engaging respective end rails, the inner edges of said respective end rails being undercut on the sides thereof adjacent said panel to deilne therewith gaps of substantial width designed to avoid the formation of a paint bond between said panel and said end rails, and anchoring means securely fixing the medial portion of said panel to said cross rail to be supported thereby for free expansion movement relative to said stiles and end rails.

BENJAMIN J. TRILLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,196,720 Rockwell Aug. 29, 1916 2,463,238 Bissell, Jr., et al. Mar. 1, 1949 2,553,459 Klein May 15, 1951 2,607,087 Triller Aug. 19, 1952 

